Dressage saddle girth length

[bonnyben]

I have just bought a dressage saddle off ebay (I always hated ebay but use them now for horse rug stuff and think they are marvellous) so when I saw this Albion I bought it...but I don't know what length of girth to buy, Ben's usual leather girth is 54 inches, what would you suggest for a dressage one please?

I only sat in a dressage addle for the first time last week, what a difference??

[racaille]

BB, I'd try to borrow some to try first, if you can. Here (and I assume it's the same elsewhere?) dressage girths come in lots of different styles and materials so you really should try some to see what you and the gorgeous boy like.

Currently I'm using a cheap and plain Cottage Craft one with furry sock over it on P as it is easy to wash when it gets sweaty (as you can imagine that is all the time just now ). Personally, I don't like leather for that reason. I do like the shaped waffle ones.

As for length, my feeling is that you need to fit the saddle first. I bought a girth for a new saddle by working out the old measurements and it turned out to be VAST!!!

But lucky you having a fab new saddle!!!!

[bonnyben]

Hi rac

Thank you very much, all very helpful and clear. How did you know I wanted leather??

Unfortunately heat is not a problem here, no problem at all, although wetness is. It has been the most appalling summer so far, just awful here.

Longest day today and we have had about 3 days of sunshine since April, sorry I am having a rant but it is just sooooo depressing....I know other parts have been having it bad too..

Getting back to the matter in hand , yes I will wait til it arrives and then try out girths to see what fits and suits. It isn't a very smart Albion, but it is brown which I wanted and it was very reasonable which is even more important.

Thanks again....

[spotti]

I think the rough guide is about 20" shorter than a regular GP girth, but like Rac rightly says, dressage girths like all girths come in all shapes and sizes so it would be worth trying a few before deciding for definite. For example, Faith has 2 dressage girths - one is 28" (20" shorter than her old GP) and the other is 22"! Both fit her in different ways as they are different shapes and styles, but if the 22 was longer, it would drown my poor pony and sag around her ever-shrinking belly

[fimacg]

agree with spotti the rule of thumb is 20" shorter than standard girth

[bonnyben]

Thanks Spotti and Fi very helpful guide. That would suggest 34 ins then but that seems long.

I asked my teacher last night and he has one or two for me to try when the saddle arrives to check to see whats fits and he has given me the name of a shop in Ardrossan, about 20 miles away, that stocks loads of girths and other stuff at very reasonable prices.

Thanks again, getting exicted now.

[brigadier]

Gosh he has a good girth depth! as above, 20" shorter but 2" either way on such a big boy shouldnt matter!

[bonnyben]

Thanks everyone for your help. ;D

Saddle arrived, I think it might do - I know that doesn't sound right, what I mean is, I think it fits but I am no expert. My teacher was away for the weekend and will look at it this afternoon or tomorrow. I just sat it on Ben's back and it does not impede his shoulder. It does seem to sit off his back a bit toward the back , but daylight is visible right through from pommell to cantle. I haven't sat on it yet; as I keep saying the weather is just so foul and I didn't want to get it wet, even going from his stable to the indoor school would have resulted in a right soaking...... I used the dressage girth I have been using and it was fine, as you say Brig there is quite a lot of scope isn't there, the straps are long and loads of holes!!

A lot will depend of course on whether K says it is any good...but all being well my lesson tomorrow will be on my very own (well used and quite old) dressage saddle.